My how-to-quilt book says to first take one stitch and then bring the bobbin thread to the top - well, I can't seem to do that. I pull on the needle thread but it doesn't pull the bobbin thread up. How do you get the bobbin thread to the top to prevent the birds nest which I've gotten many times today?

Take one stitch. Just one. Lift presser foot and pull up on the tail of the top thread. This will bring up the bobbin thread. Sometimes I have to turn the wheel a little to get the thread to release. Don't forget to put the presser foot back down before you start quilting.

Thanks for the info - I haven't been successful yet but will keep trying. To post a question I have been clicking on "Create New Topic", is that the correct way?

Yes that is the correct way.

Also Baby Catcher gave you the correct instructions.

I have learned to do this on my home sewing machine. It helps to prevent the thread from bunching at the beginning of your sewing.

Yes, new topic is the way to go when you post a question. Welcome from the UK!

To bring the bottom thread up, let the needle down through the fabric and bring it back up. (If your machine has a needle-down button, use that. If not, you might want to use the hand wheel rather than the foot pedal, to make sure you're only doing a single needle-down-and-up. If you do more, you can't pull the thread up anymore.)
Then gently tug on the tail end (the loose dangling end) of the needle thread. You may need to hold the other end of the needle thread, near where it goes into the needle, to make sure it doesn't pull through.
This brings up a small loop from underneath the fabric. tug on that and you should get your bobbin thread end.
Clear as mud? :D

check bobbin make sure it is not put in backwards when you put in bobbin thread for my machine it is inserted clockwise bobbin thread should be pulled through spring shape to little T I go ahead and put thread through hole on bobbin case to get a more even tension on thread .
After case is installed in machine turn hand wheel while gently holding top needle thread till needle goes down and back up gently lift up on top thread and bottom thread should come up and you are ready to go.I also have to lower my feeddogs in order to do FMQ hope this info helps Angie

Lower the presser foot, lower the needle completing one cycle. Don't bring it down and then move the wheel backwards. You must complete a turn: needle down and back up in one motion while holding the loose end of the upper thread. Lift the presser foot and pull on the thread end that you are holding and it will bring up the bobbin thread.

Boy you girls are good instructors. I will try these lessons. I could never quite get it. I got a new laptop and can bring it right down by my machine, a new Janome6600, by the way and try this. Thanks again for the written tute.

When you take that first stitch, you must make sure that the needle goes down into the fabric while holding the top thread. When you bring the needle up, you need to tug on the thread to bring the bobbin thread up. Grab the bobbin thread and pull it up.

As you take the first few stitches, make sure to hold both threads.